The inaugural family friendly and fun Lavender festival was a fantastic success by any measure. The Cape Clear Lavender Initiative started three years ago, 2021, with a plan to plant, process, produce and have the first Lavender Festival in 2024. Cape succeeded!
The weather was glorious. The boats were full of visitors and everyone without exception remarked on the wonderful atmosphere that held sway for the two days highlighting all of the Cape Clear Lavender products and experiences that were there to enjoy.
The island was abuzz with happy visitors both new and old friends, who came out for the day to explore and enjoy Cape Clear.
The festival gained good traction in media outlets both local and national featuring on The Examiner, The Southern Star, An Saol Ó Dheas with the legendary Helen Ní Shé and on Nuacht TG4 as well as having great support from locals and friends of Cape alike who spread the word far and wide.
The Cape Clear Lavender Festival is the beginning of a new tradition. It is a renewal of community spirit and growth in enterprise harnessing the knowledge of farmers and growers and combining that with innovation, skill and care put into every product by local and resident artisans as well as doing our bit for the environment.
There were opportunities to explore the island either on foot, by bus or in vintage style on Diarmaid’s David Browne 350, a great treat especially for children and vintage tractor fans too!
Visits to growers’ lavender gardens around the island provided interesting opportunities to learn all about the project, take a few lovely snaps and learn a bit about the goats at the famous Cléire Goats. Fiona opened Mara Farm to welcome all, both young and young at heart, it is always a popular stop, seeing the variety of heritage breed farm animals and enjoying a delicious cup of coffee and one of Fiona’s fabulous cakes.
Down at the harbour, displays of the lavender processing and equipment major attractions. The bee education from Fastnet Farm was extremely interesting and the glass viewing hive was a huge hit!
Tasty treats were available from Helen and Treasa in the marquee, and local eateries as well as lavender themed picnic baskets from the crew at Cotter’s Bar. Mandi B catered to all in need of a bit of R&R in the wellness area, Marianne and Kate had lovely crafts and preserves to try and Karina was busy making the day special for children with facepainting and tattoos!
Sunday was a special day combining the festival with Lifeboat Day, a day of awareness as well as an opportunity to show our support for the RNLI. As Islanders we all have good reason to be grateful to the members of the RNLI who leave their families and jobs to answer the shout and sail into the worst storms and tricky situations, no matter the hour to help someone in trouble. The giant purple deck chair provided a great insta moment and it raised plenty of funds for the RNLI as did the raffle of wonderful prizes in the afternoon.
Danzig in Cumar is the heart of the operation, the shop is in a beautiful and sensitively renovated historic building where two families lived in bygone days. The gentle calming aroma greets you as you step into the cool building and see shelves packed with lovely things that are great as gifts for others but make a nice indulgence for yourself too! The range covers everything from soap and salts to candles and soaps to sweet Faoiste (fudge) and dried buds and not forgetting the various varieties of local gin including the luscious lavender gin.
The lavender project is really delivering for the community, adding to the calendar of events on the island, increasing employment, respecting the local environment and heritage while offering opportunities to innovate. Make sure to include the Cape Clear Lavender Festival 2025 in your plans for a visit to Cape Clear Island on the Wild Atlantic Way!
